troops and first lieutenant dan burchinski's new home. one month into his deployment from his first mission outside the wire this west point graduate realized every day had the potential to be deadly. >> my very first mission i watched three ieds go off in succession on the group. the very first day game on, this place is not friendly. let's try to keep ourselves off the road as much as possible. >> reporter: to keep off the road sole yeses would stick to dirt trails, even orchards. that's where his platoon was patrolling on august 18th of last year. >> we heard the explosion. could you see the dust rise up over the trees. >> an ied had been triggered. and soon after another explosion. two men were killed. burchinski, unscathed had to hold the area so they could search the areas come daylight. and as he was walking down a trail steps from his compound, another blast. >> i don't really remember a sound or a flash. i just remember the pressure. but immediately i knew what had happened. (beep beep beep). >> and the next thing i know i was op